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PRESS BRAKE W. C. ANTHONY ET AL Filed April 23, 1951 Nov. 14, 1933.

NOV. 14, 1933 w. c. ANTHONY ET AL 1,935,173

PRES S BRAKE @MVM NOV 14, 1933. w. c. ANTHONYET Al. 1,935,173

PRES S BRAKE Filed April 25, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 @www Nov. 14, 1933. w Q ANTHONY ET AL 1,935,173

PRES S BRAKE Filed April 23, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 5.75 7 l0 74] I l- [I2 zy9 j .7/1 I4 v Q4 l \]L\\\\` f3 Nov. 14, 1933. w Q ANTHONY ET AL 1,935,173

PRESS BRAKE Filed April 25. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 14, 1933. w, c. ANTHONY ET AL PRESS BRAKE Filed April 23, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. i4, i933 UNITE-D v1,935,173 PRESS BRAKE William C. Anthony and Lester Wachter,

Streator, Ill., assignors to Anthony Development Company, Streator,Ill., a syndicate Applieation April 23, `1931. Serial No. v53,?239 18C1aimS. (Cl. 153-16) This invention relates toa press brake. It has orone object Vtoprovide a' machine capable of bending metal or 'other material. Another 'object is to provide, in connection -with such a f machine, means for bending avgiven ypiece of materiale. number or" times. Another-object is to provide, in comdectionwith such an appa* ratus, 4means'for operating its Various parts automatically. VAnother object is to provide, in cony nection with such a machine, I'material Yholding means andmaterial bending'means and separate operating mechanism foreach of said means Other'objects will appearfrom time to time in the specication and claims.

The invention is illustrated more orlless diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:- f Figure 1 is a frontelevation of the press brake, with :parts in section; f

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross section, taken at. line 2-22 of Figure 'l andf'showing a portionof the .material handling fmeans as well; Figure 3 is asectional view, showing one .type of bend whichcanbe made bythe machine;

Figure /lis a longitudinal .vertical cross section, generally/.similar to Figure 2, showing the parts in a vdifferent f position, in which 'the material holding ,member is raised;

:Figure .5 is a longitudinal vertical :cross ^sectional detail, taken on an enlarged scale, showing'thebendingparts at or near the completio of a bending movement;

Figure --6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, showing particular-ly'the. controlling mechn anism;

Figure '7 is an elevational View taken at right angles with respect to Figure-6, showing` thev same parts and looking in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6; Y Y

Figure `8 is a detailed longitudinal 4horizontal crosssection, taken at line 8-'-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 -is a transverse vertical cross sectional Figure 1l is a transverse vertical cross section, taken at line` ll--ll of Figure 1, .showing the hold-down cylinder in elevation;

Figure 12 is a detailed elevation of lone side ofthe machine, ,showing the material holding assembly raised;

Figure 13 `is a 'longitudinal verticalcross secv tional detail, taken Aon an enlarged Yscale atjline 13-13 of Figuren; g

Figure 14 isa longitudinal horizontal cross sectional detail, taken at linerl4-'l4 of Figure 4', and showing, in elevation, the operating means for'the bending apron; and

Figure 15 is a pipingdiagram illustrating diagrammatically the operating means and the piping connections therefor.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout'the speciiication and drawings.

A is a loorY or" foundation upon which the machine is positioned. It may be of any suitfoundation and eachpair is preferably joined f `adjacent its upper ends, at least, by cross'members B1. At their lower ends the members "B are joined by laterally extendingplates B2. y'lrojecting outwardly from the members B2 and lying in 'a generally horizontal position, are. supports B3 which, as indicated particularly in Figure 6,4k

may be made up of pairs of channels joinedtogether, back to back. v The members B3 serve'to support portions of the operatingmechanism. A `bed supporting member B4 which may be an Iebeam, as shown for example in Figures 2, 4 and 5, extends in a generally horizontal v`position across between the two pairs of Vertical supports B and is suitablyf'astened to them. VOn its upper surface, it carries a laterally extended bed'plat'e B5. B6A is a 'bracing member joined to the bed,v n l plate B5 andthe bed support B4. VFastened 'to the rear yor right hand members B, as 'shownior example in Figures 2, el, 5 and 6, are' side frame members B7.' These members are provided on their undersurfaces with rack portions B3. At

Atheir rear ends they are supported by members B9 and they are provided with means for receiving. guiding' and placing members B10 which are removably positioned upon' themffor reasonsv which will be described below.

' C is a bending apro-n. Along .'itsfupper edge it carries an angle member C1 which provides a flange at the upperv edge. kAt its sidestheapron C is fastened to and supportedlby hinge. members C2 which are themselves hinged tothe forward orr left hand members 1B, 'as indicated for. examplevin Figure 2, as at C3. In its rear theA bers D1. Within which is mounted a piston. Suitable hyapron C has secured to it an angle C4 which may have one or more bearing supports C5 in which are positioned pins C0, upon each of which is pivotally mounted a link C1. C8 is a carriage member upon which the opposite ends of the links C1 are pivoted. The carriage member may carry rollers C3 which are run in tracks C10, fixed or supported upon the foundation A. Extending forwardly or to the left, as shown in the figures, from the carriage member C3 are frame members C11 which carry a rod C12 upon each end of which is positioned a roller C13. These rollers, like the rollers C0 are positioned to run in the tracks C10. Fastened to the rod C12 is one end of a piston rod C14 which is fastened to a piston C15 which is positioned within an hydraulic cylinder C10. The cylinder is arranged to operate the piston and to move it back and forth and thus to move the carriage C3 and its associated parts, and so to move the apron up and down, suitable hydraulic connections being made to the cylinder to cause the back and forth movement of the piston Within it. The cylinder is fastened to any suitable fixed support and, as here shown, is fastened to the foundation or floor A.

Fixed on the outside of the rear or right hand member B, as shown in the figures, is a rack D. A pair of channels D1 are fastened together and these channels are mounted to move up and down along the rack and .along the members B, in a manner and by means which will be de scribed below. As will be noticed, particularly from Figure l2, and generally from a number of the other gures, the members D1 are perforated as at D2 and may carry a sleeve-like member D3. The members are spaced apart sufficiently to receive a plate D4 which extends above them and stops short of their lower edge. Thismember is also correspondingly perforated to receive the sleeves D3 and the parts are held in position by bolts D5 and nuts D0. At their lower edges the members D1 have fixed to them a plate D1 which is provided with an inclined front edge D3. It maycarry in its rear a spacing pin or member D9. and has fixed 'to its lower surface, andl preferably removably, a contact plate D10. At its outer ends the plate D4 carries projections D11, to each of which is fastened a piston rod D12 which is fastened to a piston running in an hydraulic cylinder D13 which is itself supported upon one of the members B3. Suitable hydraulic connections are provided for moving the piston up and down. Pivotally connected to the ends of the plates D4 are hooks D14 which are preferably double, as shown especially in Figure 11. Each is'provided with a cam portion or nose D15 adapted to contact a cam member D16 which is fixed adjacent the plate D4 to one of the members B. The plate D4 is provided adjacent each of its ends with a perforation or opening D11, through which projects a pinion D13 positioned to engage the rack D. The pinions D13 are carried on a shaft D19 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the plate D4 or on the mem- D20 is Yan hydraulic pull-down cylinder,

vided adjacent its top with a hook engaging member D22 by .means of which the hook D14 may engage the member D22.

For purposes of illustration, a plate E, which is` being bent, is shown in several of the figures. As

, shown in Figure 2, the plate has not yet beenbent invention.

or otherwise acted upon. It is being inserted into the machine. In Figure 4 the plate is shown as having been bent to provide'a iiange or relatively narrow bend E1. As shown in Figure 5, the plate has been further bent to provide a bent portion E2 and as a result of this, the flange E1 is bent back generally parallel to the main body of the plate. As shown in Figure 3, each side of the plate has been bent to provide a flange E1 and a portion E2 and the plate has been further bent to provide other portions E3. The form shown in Figure 3 is suitable for use as a receptacle or dumping body. Such a member may be completed by pro viding an end plate, to vclose one end, and an end plate or gate or other closure, to close the other end.

Many different means of handling plate and other shapes which are to be bent in the machine will suggest themselves. Only one is shown and it is shown diagrammatically herewith, as its particular details form no particular part of the present invention. It is suiiicient for the purposes of the present .invention that means be provided to engage and support the plate or other shape which is being worked upon.

F represents a track upon which a carriage F1 is supported by means of rollers or wheels F2. From this carriage depends hoisting and supporting members F3, F4. These may embody electrical, mechanical or hydraulic parts and controlling and actuating connections F5 may be made. These parts may be of any suitable design. A trapeze-like frame. F6 may ldepend from the supporting carriage. It may have separated ends which carry clamps F1, the clamps being hydraulically or otherwise actuated. Thus two clamps may be used, one to engage the plate E on each side. For vconvenience it is frequently preferable to engage the plate at about its middle point.

Co-operating with the trapeze-like arrangement is a carriage mounted to run along the frame members B1. rIhis carriage comprises side portions each ofwhich has at its top a pair of rollers G1 which are preferablyA iianged and arranged to run upon the upper surface of the members B1 which serve as tracks. A shaft G2 extends across the assembly from one side of the carriage to the other and carries adjacent each end a pinion G3 which meshes with the rack porriage and thus, when the plate is carried by the l trapeze and the trapeze itself is movedY into engagement with the carriage,` the carriage may then be moved and will carry the plate withit.

As explained above, any form of mechanism for carrying, moving and adjusting the plate may be used invconnection with the device of the present The trapeze structure, just briefly described, is merely one suitable form. The detachable notched member B10 is provided with notches suitable for the particular bends which it is desired to give to any plate and for each particular operation the carriage is moved so that the dog G5 engages a given notch and the plate is thus carried to a suitable position Afor making,

to make.

For ,ordinary purposes,Y when it is desired to.

bend ,a member in the machine, it isA put in position upon the bed plate and is gripped and held' in the position by the hold-downfmember which is held in position byy the hydraulic cylinders D20. The apron C, with its flange C1,.is then raised toward the positionshown in ydotted l-ines in Figure 2,',or to a position such as that shown in;

full linesin Figure; 5, and thebend is accomplished as shown in the latter figure; The move` ment of the apron is stopped at the desiredrpoint when the bend has been accomplished. The

apron is then usually lowered and the hold-down,l member raised and the. plate may be removedv from lthe machine entirely or else moved for subsequent bending or further treatment. These operations and the operations of the hydraulic cylinders .whichaccomplish them `may be con-l trolled manually or in any suitable'manner and` by any. desirable mechanism. In the` present case;

a mechanism is shown which isin some of its operations automatic. Thiscontrollingand regulating mechanism will now loe-described.

Ordinarily there is one control .assembly and" for Yconvenience it is all mounted upon oneside of the press. In the form shown in ,Figure 1.: the left hand hinge C3 is provided With a'pinA or shaft H, which, by means of.V a pin orn spline H1, is fastened to` the member C2V so lthat it moves with it. Thus, as. the lbending aipronA moves, it-moves the pin H withit.v Upon the outer end of that pin is positioned va sprocket A stub. shaft H3 lis'journaled ina suitable thevertical side frame members B and carries anl idler sprocket H4' 'which' engages a chain H51which is positioned about the sprocket-.H2

Hois Aa stub shaft `journaled'in'suitable bearfV ings preferably supportedfrom the vertical mem-vy ber B. It .carries a' sprocket ,H7 whichv isA in mesh with the chain H5. The sprocket.4 pinion H7 has fastened to it, to move with it, a. pinion I (Fig. 9) is a stub shaft having a reduced a portion I1 andl being supported ina suitable bearing I2, which vis supported on one of the uprights B. At one end it has a retaining mem- -v-ber I3 fastened upon it and intermediate its ends it has a spacing collar I4. fastened upon.

it. Fixed upon it also is a member I5whichA carries a pinion I6 which is fastened to'fan arm I7. The pinion I6 meshes with the pinion H0..

Y Positioned about the reduced end .I1-ofthe, shaft I is a short stub shaft J. It has on its" outer end a Aretaining portion J1' and itv carries.'

a sleeve-like member J2fwhich. xed to it to move with itY land whichV has formed upon it a worm gear J3.

Movably mounted upon the sleeve J2 is a housingJ4 which encloses a'worm J5 which meshes with the worm gear J3.' The. housing carries an indexrpointerJG-and preferably generally opposite the pointer J 5,*-it also car- An index wheel or plate L13, from which va connecting conduit N14 leads to ries a stop member J7. J8 is mounted upon'the` stub shaft J' to move with it. An extension Jg'which may be formedY with or welded or otherwise fastened to thelnous.-

ing J4 is positioned upon, fixed toand supportedV by a/stub shaft`J10.

inl the housing J4 and carrying the-'worm J5.

J11 is a shaft' journaled Ahand wheel .or crank J12 is provided for it, by'meansl of which it; may be rotated.` J13 isa stop mounted: on the'. disc or plateJ and po-y sitioned to bef'engagedby: the arm Ill. f

formed inra'supporting bracketiKl which-is sup:-

ported upon one oft the uprightmembers B. K3

is a stopv formed on` the supporting bracket K1;

andppositioned to be engaged byu theistop J",v

of theyhousing J4, contact; with it.; V

L is a leverixedpto the. stublshaftvv J10. Fasp-j when the lattery moves. intoV to one-ofgthe Vertical'frame members B.'A Fastened to the outer end ofi the lever Lis a..link

- Thel shaft J1@ is. supported inA a bearing 'K-,f

L3 which is itself. fastened toa valve handle;

L4-which controls the movement*` of a valve L5.

A connectionor pipev L6 runsfrom the valve..

L5 to the hydraulic` cylinder L7.. vL8 is a; pipe. leading from the cylinderL7 at the end opposite. to the connection L0.

from the cylinder. Within the vcylinder ,L7 is;

a piston L9 which has connected to. it a pistonv rod L10 whichprojects beyond the cylinder and.

by. means yof a link L11 is connectedt-o thehandle L12 `of av Valve L13 which'is formed as shownv dagrammatically in Figure 15 and is connectedV by conduits which will be described below so that it can operate the cylinder C16 to raise and lower the bending apron. This operation is automatic .or semi-automatic and its details will be described below.

.In order to understand the` operation of the Various hydraulic mechanisms, whetherthis operation be automatically, semi-automaticallyor manually controlled, attention is called toFigure'15', which isa diagrammatic showing of the parts andgth'eir connections.

In that figure M isy a. reservoir for oil or other liquid used in the hydraulic system. M1 is, a. pump.; A'supply pipe M2 leadsfrom the. res'- ervoir to the pump. M3 is an. accumulator-'in which a piston M4 is positioned. The piston rod- M5 projects beyond the cylinder. and carries .a

whichzis. provided with a connecting conduitN7. which, through branches N3 N9 may supply liquid tothe .cylindersA D20. A conduit N9 leads from. the opposite endsofthe cylinders D back vto the It permitsfluid to escape.;

The conduitN, after j valve N0; "N10 is a fiuid returnconduit by 4means of which fluid whichleaves the various hydraulic cylinders may be returned to the reservoir M. A branch N11 leads from the valve N6 to the .return conduit N10. The conduit N1, after passing through the valve N4 leads to the .two-Way valve L13. From this valve a conduitN12 leads to the.`

cylinder C16. The conduit N13 leads from theY opposite end of the cylinder C16 back to the valve to the main `return conduit N10. N19 is a conduit connecting the pressure conduit M9 with the main returnlconduitfNm. A valveN20 is positioned in it.

. N21 iisfaconnecting's. conduit; running from.

gspect to other bends. given a very considerable travel so that a plate main return conduit N10 to the valve IVI'8 in the main pressure conduit M0. The valve L13 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 15. It is indicated generally as the middle valve in Figures 6 and 7. The valve N0 is the lowermost valve in Figures 6 and 7, while the valve N15 is the uppermost valve in Figures 6 and 7. In the form of the invention shown herewith, the valves N6 and N15 are operated manually. The valve N0 controls the operation of the main pull-down or holddown cylinders D20. It is manually Vcontrolled by a handle N22. The valve N15 controls the operation of the cylinders D13. In the form of the invention shown herewith, it also is manually controlled by a handle N22. Thus the movement of the valve L13 is controlled automatically in response to a setting of the dial and so the amount of movement of the bending apron and, therefore, the amount of bend, is controlled automatically after the parts have been set for the desired bend. The operation and movement of the hold-down member, both as to raising and to lowering, is controlled manually. N24 is a conduit leading from the conduit N12 to the housing of the valve While wehave herewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes. might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition oi parts without departing lfrom the spirit of our invention and we wish,

therefore, that our showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

The brake is designed for the bending of material. larly adapted for use as a machine for bending sheets or plates, which are given several successive bends, some in a reverse direction with re- 'Ihe hold-down plate is having been put in from the rear and bent may be removed to the rear for adjustment of repositioning for subsequent bending. This is possible even where a quite a large piece has been bent up. Heretofore, in press brakes of the type now on the market, where a piece of considerable width is bent up, for example a piece eighteen inches' or more in width, it has been necessary to withdraw the plate from the front of the machine.

If subsequent bends are to be made, this'necessitates carrying the piece bodily around the machine and re-inserting it in a reverse direction from the rear. With our invention, the plate vhaving been bent up, the hold-down member is raised, the plate is Withdrawn to the rear and then Vthe lower member of the hold-down'V assembly reversed, turned over and otherwise re-positioned for further bending. By reason'of this, the supporting and holding mechanism to which theV plate is attached can remain attached to it throughout the entire operation and once the plate has been put into the holding mechanism it need not be removed from it or detached from it until the entire bending operation is completed' and this is true even although the bending operation includes several bends on one edge and several other bends on an opposite edge and such bendsmay involve considerable widths of material. This will be the case in bending a plate into the shape shown in Figure 3.. In shaping 'that plate, the supporting equipment is attachedv approximately at the middle of the plate. Ordinarily, for the purpose of convenience, the carriage which isv mounted to run .along the frame` v members B7 is put into the position shown in `Fig; j

In the formV shown herewith it is particu- A piston rod D21. which this rod is attached pulls the hooks and the rassure.

ure '2, with lthe dog G5 engaging one of the notches in the plate B10. The plate is temporarily positioned in the trapeze mechanism,the latter is putin engagement with the carriage and the plate is then moved forward until it contacts spacing pins D0; Usually the notches in the plate B10 are so positioned that for a givenplate, when that plate is in contact with the spacing pins, the trapeze mechanism, if it svin position on the carriage as shown in Figure 2, will be at the center of 'the plate. The plate is then clamped to the trapeze mechanism, the hold-down member is raised,V the plate is moved forward until the dog G5 engages the next notch in the plate B10, the hold-down member is then moved into position holding the plate, the apron C is raised by the hydraulic cylinder in a manner which will be described below. This raising is continued as far as necessary to givel the desired bend and thus the bent portion El is formed. When'` this bend is completed, the apron C is lowered, the hold-l downmember is raised, the carriageis moved forward until Ythe vdog engages the nextnotch, as

for example, the `notch shown in Figure 4, inv

which the dog lies. rIhe hold-down member is then lowered, the apronC is raised to the position shown in Figure 5 to accomplish the second bending and to form the portion E2. The degree of bending, that is to say, the angle through which bending is carried out, maybe anything from one degree to a maximum of more notch, which is the next to the last, as shown in Figure 4; from that occupied by the dog G5 as shown in that gure, the hold-down member is moved into position and a subsequent bend is carried out. In this fashion the machine operates to give almost any suitable number of successive bends and, as has been said, these may be in a direction reversed,'one. with respect to the other.

The details of the operation of the mechanism itself will now be described. With the parts of the machine as shown in Figure 1, no bending is occurring and the hold-down member is'in position. The details of the hold-down member are shown in Figure V13. As there shown,the plate D4 is 'attached to the members'D1 which carry D10 only at two points, namely, the boltsD5..

Thus, when the plate D4 is pulled down, the holddown effect is transmitted through the bolts D5 to the members D1 and'thence to the members D1 and D10. of warping or bendingof that portion of the holddown assembly which contacts the work to be held down is reduced. With the parts as shown in Figure 1, the hold-down assembly is gripped and held down by the large cylinders D20. hooks D14, which are pivotally. attached to the By this construction, the danger The plate D4, are engaged with. the member D22 ofthe A pull downon the piston to plateD1 and the entirehold-down assembly and holds it in position. When it is desired to release the hold-down assembly and to raise it,.the 'pistons to which thev piston rods'D21 are attached are reversed-that is to say, moved upwardly. At first, the rod D21 contacts the bottom face of the plate D4 and pushes the hold-down assembly up. If the movement is continued, the members D15 of the hooks D14 contact the cams D16 and the hooks are held, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure l2, out or engagement with the member D22. If, for the purpose of the bend in question, it is necessary only to raise the hold-down assembly slightly, the heavy or large cylinder D2o will be used only. Where itis necessary to raise the hold-down assembly more, the cylinders D13' and their pistons and piston rods will be use l, and in that case, pressure is applied to raise the pistons to which the piston rods D12 are attached, and the hold-down assembly is raised into the position shown in full lines in Figure l2. Equal movement of each side of the assembly is insured by the use of the shaft D19 which is journaled upon the plate D4, and which carries the pinions D18 which mesh with the racks D on the side members B, `Bymeans, therefore, of movement of the which is in contact'with the member to be bent andthus as the apron is swungor moved upwardly,-

vpistons which lie within the cylinders D13 of D211.

the hold-downassembly is raised or lowered.

When the hold-down assembly .returns to; the hold down position after having been raised, the portions D15 of the hooks AD11 pass below the cams D16 and the hooks then swing into the engagingvposition in which they engage the member YD22 as shown in Figure 1.v Pressure is then suitablyapplied in the cylinder D20 to pull down on the piston, the piston rod D21 and the hooks D1*1 and thus the hold'down assembly is held in the holding position and the plate or other article which is to be bent or shaped is held against displacement and rests on the bed plate B5 or the bed assembly generally.

With the parts held in this position, bending'o'f the plate may commence. Pressure is suitably applied inthe cylinder C15 to force. out the rod C1A1 and thiscarries forward the carriage made of theshaft C12, the side members C11 and the rear cross member C Sf, The links C7 which at their rear ends are pivoted onthe cross member C8, are vmoved forward as the carriage is moved forward." At their forward ends theselinks are pivoted upon the apron C andthus forward movement of the carriage, that is to say, movement/from right-to left, as shown in Figure 2, raises. the apron C from the full line position of Figure 2 to the dotted line position of that ng- -Theyapron carries the angular member C1 the angular member C1l contacts the..material and effects the bend.- As shown in Figure 5, the apron C is in a raised position andA a bend has just been accomplished.. When the apron has been moved suiliciently to accomplishthe desired amount yof bend, pressurev is applied to the cylinder C16 to withdraw the. piston C15 and thus the carriage and apronmove again to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, and shown also in 'Figure 4.' Y

There is attached to one, of the hinges which support the apron C, so as to rotate as the apron moves, a pinion H2. The purpose of this pinion i sto provide means for automatic control so that the amount of movement of the apron C and consequently the amount of bending accomf plishedby it may-be automatically lcontrolled. This automatic control will now be described. j

lThemain function of the automatic control is to provide an adjustable automatic apparatus by means of Whichvthe operator canset the controlling mechanism so that the apron will move. through a predetermined arc and Will auto- Amatically stop at the end of that arc. Thus, the

operator isnot under'the necessity of constantly Watching the apron and the danger of allowing it to go too far or of stopping it too soon is re. moved. As a part of the automatic operating mechanismV anv hydraulic cylinder is used, which, at a predetermined adjustable point, is automatically actuatedto move the lever which controls the pressure to cylinder C16 and thereby, of course, controls the movement of the apron C. This operating cylinder ls the cylinder L'1. AIt is shown in plan in Figure 8. It appears in' side elevation in Figure 6 andL in end elevation in Figure '7. it is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 15. kAs described above, the pinion H2 which is moved with the apron C, is connected to the pinion H7, carried upon the stub shaft H6. Mounted to move with the pinion H'7 is a second pinion H8. This pinion lL-I8 meshes with a pinion IKi mountedr to move with a shaft which s hafft also carries an arm I7. By means of this gearing,

the member J is a member J2, carrying a wormv gear. .A housing is movably mounted on the member J2. It enclosesa worm whichmeshes with the worm gear and the housing is also prof` vided with a pointer J6. A handle J12'is alsoprA vided for rotating the worm gear. The markings on the plate J8 are arranged to indicate degrees of motion of the apronC. When it is desired to"set the apparatus to carry out'bending, the.

handle J12 is rotated so `as to rotate the worm;V

Since the housing which carries the Worm is held against movement 'by the contact of the stop J"^r` with the stop K2, the plateJ?, which is fastened to the member which carries the gear J3, is rotated. Thisrotation is carried out untilthe de-v. sired adjustment' has been made. If a plate or other 'piece of material to be acted vupon is in position, theV machine is now ready forbending movement.` The operation of bending is normally manually initiated The lever or handle L12 which; controls the operation of the valve L13 is moved 'tothe full linev position of Figure 8. In that `position pressure passes through vthe valve L13 to move the piston C15 outwardly or to the left. The apron is thus raised, the pinion H2 is rotatedv with it. Through the gearing shown, in detail in Figure 10, the rotation of the pinion H2 causes rotation' of the arm I". This arm moves clock-wise, as shown in Figure 10, or counter clock-wise, as shown in Figure 6. It moves until it strikes the stop J13 onv the plate J8.v The position of this stop with respect to the initial'position of the arml'I lis adjusted by the adjusting movement of the plate or disc'J, as yabove described. When the arm I'1 contacts the stop J13, it moves the plate and since the worm gear and worm arelocked together, it moves the parts which carry them, and the housing, in a counter clock-wise direction, as shown infFigure `6. In this movement the lever Lis moved downwardly or counterV clock-wise against the action of the spring Llwhich tends normally'to hold it upward. This downward movement of the member L is transmitted by means ofthe link L3 to the valve handle or lever L4, thus putting pressure into the cylinder L'1 to move the piston tothe right as shown in `Figures v6 and 8, and

Vthus to move the valve lever or handle L12 into the dotted line position of Figure 8. This movement reverses the direction of flow of pressure to the cylinder C16 so that the movement of the pistonl in that cylinder is reversed. Thus the apron C is stopped and reversed and moved again to the initial position shown in full lines for example in Figure 6. The valve handle or lever L12 will remain in the dotted line position of Figure 8. Reverse or downward movement of the apron C causes a corresponding movement of the pinion H2 and the gearing which is attached to it. This frees the disc, the worm gear and housing for reverse or clock-wise movement as viewed in Figure 6, and these parts are then returned to their initial position by the spring L1. The valve handle L12 will remain in the dotted line position of Figure 8 and the parts will remain stationary. When it is desired to eiiect another bending movement, the valve handle L12 is moved manually from the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 to the position shown in full lines in that iigure. This movement moves the valve L13 into position to cause the piston C15 to move outwardly and thus to eect another bending operation.

' The operation of the cylinders which move and control the movement of the hold-down assembly might be arranged automatically. In the particular form of the invention shown herewith the operation ofv these cylinders is controlled manually by the levers or handles N22 and N23, which operate, respectively, valves N6 and N15.

We claim:

1. In combination in a forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, means for moving said member, and a material bending means movably mounted means for movingvthe same, and automatic means for controlling the amount of bending movement, and for causing the bending means, upon the completion of a predetermined adjustable amount of movement in the bending direction, to return to its initial position.

2. In combination in a metal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, means for moving said member toward said bed and away from said bed, and a material` bending means movably mounted with respect to said bed, means for moving the same, and automatic means for controlling the amount of bending movement and for causing the bending means, upon the completion of a predetermined adjustable amount of movement in the bending direction, to return to its initial position.

3. In combination in a metal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, hydraulic means for. holding said member in the down position, a bending part mounted for bending movement, means for moving it, adjustable automatic means for controlling its movement to cause it to move through a predetermined distance.

4. In combination in a metal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, rapid hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, a bending part mounted for bending movement, means for moving it, automatic means for controlling its movement to cause it to move through a predetermined adjustable distance, to ntop, to reverse and to return to its initial posiion.

5. In combination in a vmetal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, rapid hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to lraise the member, a,

bending part mounted for bending movement and means for moving it.

6. In combination in a metal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to raise the member, an additional raising member for the hold-down member, a bending part mounted for bending movement and means for moving it.

7. In combination in a mtal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to raise Ythe member, an additional raising member for the hold-down member, of greater travel than the rst mentioned member, a bending part mounted for bending movement and means for moving it. l

8. In combination in a metal forming'machine,

a bed, a hold-down member, rapid hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to raise the member, a bending part mounted for bending movement, means for moving it, adjustable automatic means for controlling its movement to cause it to move through a predetermined distance.

9. In combination in a metal forming machine, a bed, a hold-down member, hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to `raise the member, an additional raising member for the hold-down member, a bending part mounted for bending movement, means for moving it, adjustable automatic means for controlling its movement to\ cause it to move through a predetermined distance, to stop, to reverse and to return to its initial position.

10. In combination in a metal formingy machine, a bed, a hold-down member, hydraulic means for holding said member in the down position, said means adapted to raise the member, an additional raising member for the hold-down member, of greater travel than the iirst mentioned member, a bending part mounted for bending movement with respect to the bed, means for moving itadjustable automatic means for controlling its movement to cause it to move through a predetermined distance, to stop, to reverse and to return to its initial position.

11. In combination in a material handling means, a bed, frame members extending above said bed, a hold-down member positioned to ize the movement of said hold-down member along said frame members, a bending member and means for moving it.

12. In combination in a material handling means, a bed, frame members extending above said bed, a hold-down member positioned to move along said frame members, means -on said hold-down member and engaging portions of said frame members, to equalize the movement of said hold-down member along said frame members, a bending member and means for moving it.

13. In combination in a material handling' means, a bed, frame members extending above said bed, a hold-down member positioned to move along said-frame members, means on said holddown member and engaging portions of said frame members, to equalize the movement of said hold-down member along said frame members, a plurality of means for raising said holddown member, one adapted for use in holding down the hold-down means, a bending member and means for moving it.

Y14:. In combination in a metal forming machine, means for holding a piece of metal immovable, and means for bending a portion of said metal, said bending means including a bending member movably mounted and means for moving it, and an additional means for adjustably and automatically controlling the movement of said bending means to cause it to accomplish a predetermined movement, said automatic meansincluding a member mounted tomove with the bending means, a stop, said movably mounted member adapted to move to contact said stop, and thereby cause movement of the controlling means to stop the bending means.

15. In combination in a metal forming machine, means for holding a piece of metal immovable, and means for bending a portion of said metal, said bending means including a bending member movably mounted and means for `moving it,

and an additional means for adjustably and automatically controlling the movement of said bending means to cause it toaccomplish a predetermined movement, to stop at the completion lof said movement and to reverse its direction of movement, said automatic means including a member mounted to move with the bending means, a stop, said movably mounted member` adapted to move to Contact said stop, and thereby to cause movement of the controlling means to stop and to reverse the bending means.

16. In combination in a metal forming machine, means for holding a piece of metal immovable, and means for bending a portion of said metal, said bending means including a bending member movably mounted and means for moving it, and an additional means for adjustably and automatically controlling the movement of said bending means to cause it to accomplish a predetermined movement, said automatic means including a member mounted to move with the bending means, an adjustable stop, said movably mounted member adapted to move to contact said stop, and thereby to cause movement of the controlling .means to stop the bending means.

17. In combination in a metal forming machine, means for holding a piece rof metal immovable, and means for bending a portion of said metal, said bending means including a bending member movably mounted and means for moving it, and an additional means for adjustably and automatically controlling the movementof said bending means to cause it to accomplish a predetermined movement, said automatic means including a member mounted to move with the bending means, an adjustable stop, a second member moved by said rst mentioned member, adapted thereby to move to contact said stop, and thereby to cause movement of the controlling means to stop the bending means.

18. In combination in a metal forming machine, means for holding a piece of metal immovable, and means for bending a portion of said metal, said bending means including a bending member movably mounted and means for moving it, and an additional means for adjustably and automatically controlling the movement of said bending means to cause it to accomplish a predetermined movement, to stop at the completion of said movement, to reverse its direction of movement and to return to its original position, said automatic means including amember mounted to move With the bending means, an adjustable stop, a second member moved by said i'irst mentioned member, adapted thereby to move to contact said stop, a thirdmovable member adapted to be moved when the second member has contacted the stop and thereby to causemovement of the controlling means to stop and to reverse the bending means.

WILLIAM C. ANTHONY. l LESTER WACHTER. 

